Dear Tapestry Students:

I will be out of town beginning early Thursday morning (1/28) through the weekend and have these instructor changes to announce about my (Kathy O’Rourke’s) regularly scheduled classes.  All other classes are running as scheduled.

Thursday 1/28 Yoga I;  8:30 - 10 am  --  Carol Anne Kemen will substitute this class IN HER STUDIO with some of her students downstairs in the Landmark Center (her studio is on the first floor of this building towards Jefferson St past the Kindergarten through the door to the mailboxes – it is along a corridor beyond the main hallway all the way towards the exterior entrance to Jefferson St.).  If you are here to take class at 8:30 Thursday morning, please head downstairs to her studio, BE ON TIME (or close to it), tell her you are in a Tapestry class  (I'll compensate her directly if you are enrolled in the winter session for any Tapestry class) and enjoy a great Yoga I class.

Thursday 1/28 Gentle Yoga; 4:45 - 6:15 pm - Kumari Sky will substitute at the Tapestry Yoga Center.

Thursday 1/28 Yoga I; 6:30-8:15 pm - Ashley Patton will substitute at the Tapestry Yoga Center. 

Friday Meditation is Cancelled this Week Due to Low Enrollment.

Saturday Meditation is Cancelled this week – no substitute available.

Saturday, 1/30 Yoga 1-2; 8-9:30 am Ashley Patton will substitute at the Tapestry Yoga Center.

Saturday Belly Dance is running as scheduled with Jessica Leinberger.

Thank you for your understanding regarding these necessary changes to accommodate a very special family travel opportunity to celebrate my son’s 9^th birthday J.  Ann Altland is acting as a point of contact in my absence and has a key to the room – her number is 1-928-380-6825 (she’s local).

Namaste,

Kathy

Free Class Session January 3-9, 2010

Today is the first day of 2010 and it is time to step fresh into the New Year!  Come join us for a week of free classes starting this Sunday, January 3rd through Saturday, January 9th.  We have an exciting Winter Class Session lined up for 12 weeks of classes in Yoga, Belly Dance, Nia and Tai Chi.  There are some new things on the schedule to try and a couple of adjustments to the schedule.  (See our schedule below or go to www.tapestryyogacenter.com).

This winter you'll see more classes by the masterful yogini, Meg Abene Newlin, who is an excellent asana teacher and is teaching 3 classes as her youngest marks his first year.  Jess Jerman is traveling in warmer climates this session, but will undoubtedly be back in future sessions -- Meg is offering a flow class on Monday evenings that replaces Jess' flow class.  Also, Meg often emphasizes abdominal work, so if you are missing Jess' Yoga & Abs class, you'll like Meg's classes (and I'll be sure to do some post-holiday core work, too).

Also, new to the schedule is an early Friday morning Silk Reeling and Meditation class by Monte McPheron, our Tai Chi teacher and I've moved my Tantric Meditation class to Saturday mornings at 7 am.  I encourage you to explore meditation as it truly is the gateway to a more courageous and joyous life.  Meditation is something you can learn -- nearly everyone finds it challenging at first, but there are many powerful techniques that are worth learning.  Both of these meditation classes are just $3 per class for enrolled students (or $5 if it's your only Tapestry class).  

Belly Dance with Jess Leinberger has moved to Saturday afternoons and I've moved Gentle Yoga class on Thursday evenings to a 4:45 start time and changed my 6:30 pm class to a Yoga I class.  Gentle Yoga is for special conditions or injuries that are aggravated by a general Yoga I class and Yoga I is a great way to get established in the basics of yoga.  All of my classes include breathing and meditation for a complete yoga practice.  

This is a great line-up for the winter in Wisconsin and it is all FREE January 3-9th, so come on out.  See www.tapestryyogacenter.com for a complete line up.  Everyone who signs up for the 12-week winter session by the end of the first week of regular classes gets a $5 discount.  And remember, we have a flexible make-up policy -- if you miss a class, you can take any other class on our schedule that goes through April 3rd.  Please email me at kathy@tapestryyogacenter.com or call me at 608-637-6950 if you have any questions.

Our ad in the latest Kickapoo Free Press has one key word missing which is SATURDAY regarding the last three classes on the list, so make a mental note of that, too.  See you next week, I hope.

Here's the schedule in a nutshell:

Sunday

7:00 – 8:45 am     Int Led Yoga Practice     Meg Abene Newlin

Monday

12 Noon – 1 pm    Nia – Joyful Movement       Gayle Nielsen

4:30 – 5:45 pm    Yoga 1-2 (Adv Beg): Focus on Flow    Meg Abene Newlin

Tuesday

8:30 – 10:00 am   Yoga 1-2 (Adv Beg)     Kathy O’Rourke

6:30 – 7:30 pm    Tai Chi          Monte McPheron

Wednesday

8:30 – 10:00 am     Yoga 1-2 (Adv Beg): Focus on Form   Meg Abene Newlin

4:30 – 5:30 pm    Nia - Joyful Movement    Gayle Nielsen

Thursday

8:30 – 10:00 am       Yoga 1     Kathy O’Rourke

4:45 – 6:15 pm   Gentle Yoga   Kathy O’Rourke

6:30 – 8:15 pm    Yoga I & Yoga Nidra   Kathy O’Rourke

Friday

7:00 – 7:30 am    Silk Reeling and Meditation   Monte McPheron

Saturday

7:00 – 7:50 am    Meditation   Kathy O’Rourke

8:00 – 9:30 am    Yoga 1-2 (Adv Beg)   Kathy O’Rourke

1:00 – 2:30 pm   Belly Dance   Jessica Leinberger

Happy New Year!

Blessings,

Kathy

Winter Solstice Crystal Bowl Concert Event

Please come to a Winter Solstice Celebration to Clear the 7 Chakras with a Crystal Bowl Concert by Rahbi Crawford tomorrow night from 6-8 pm at the Tapestry Yoga Center.  We will begin with a dynamic participatory beginning with drums, hand instruments and movement to open up to the New Earth energy of Muladhara (1st) Chakra and then relax in supported restorative yoga postures to balance the 2nd - 5th chakras before coming up for a blissful seated meditation transforming the 6th, 7th (and 8th) chakras.  These crystal bowls are deeply resonant and touch the soul -- so come celebrate this auspicious day with the gift of sound and raise your vibration as we head into the light and into the new year.  No special skill is necessary for this event -- it is a concert with some optional movement and a chance to be super comfortable as you rest in an ocean of sound.

Please come in comfortable clothes for some movement and bring a favorite pillow to relax (though there are many soft props you are welcome to use at the center).  A $10 donation is suggested, but truly, whatever fits your budget or inspiration is welcome.  Just come out and give yourself the gift of spacious wonder on the Winter Solstice 2009.  If you are able, please r.s.v.p., or just come!  Call 608-637-6950 for more information.

Winter Class Session Schedule is Ready! Free Class Week Jan 3rd - 9th.

The Winter Class Session Schedule is all printed and available all around Viroqua.  Join us for Free Class Week the first week of January -- January 3rd - 9th.   Come on out and take some Yoga, Belly Dance, Tai Chi or Nia.  

This session our schedule largely remains the same with some exciting additions.  We welcome Meg Abene Newlin who is teaching two additional classes focusing on flow in the Anusara-style on Monday nights from 4:30-5:45 pm and focusing on form and alignment on Wednesday mornings from 8:30-10am.  Both of these classes welcome healthy practitioners of all levels who are eager for a challenging practice.  She'll also continue her Sunday morning Intermediate Led practice.  

Monte McPheron's  Tai Chi class time is changing slightly to go on Tuesday nights from 6:30-7:30 pm and he is adding a Silk Reeling and Meditation class on Friday mornings from 7-7:30 am which promises to be a great way to start the day.  Jess Leinberger's Belly Dance is moving to Saturday afternoons from 1- 2:30 pm.  

My classes stay largely the same, but I am moving Guided Meditation from Wednesday morning to Saturday morning at 7 am before my 8 am Level 1-2 Yoga Class.  I also have changed the Thursday 6:30 pm class to be Yoga I and am offering a Gentle class from 4:45 - 6:15 pm on Thursdays for people who have special conditions or injuries and want the benefits of yoga in a gentle, supportive environment.  The popular Nia classes with Gayle Nielsen remain the same on Monday afternoon and Wednesday evening.  

The studio has been very cozy recently after some tweaking to the heating system and we look forward to an incredible winter session.  I'm teaching a Winter Survival Strategies Workshop on Saturday, January 24th from 2-5 pm full of tips for surviving the dark, cold winter months in Wisconsin with gems from the yogic tradition.  This is a great time of year to recommit to your health and self-care and Tapestry Yoga Center has much to offer!  Have a great Holiday Season and we'll see you in January!

Winter Schedule Coming Soon

We are beginning week 10 of this inaugural session and it is wonderful to be established in the flow of practice and be going deeper into practice.  Soon, I will have the Winter Session schedule ready to publish.  Free Class week is January 3-9th and the 12-week session will run from January 10 - April 3rd!

Almost half-way through the Fall Session

Ladies and Gentleman,

Time is doing its thing and flying by -- we are in the 5th week of classes of the Fall session and the end of next week marks the half-way point in the session.  Be sure to take all of the classes you are signed up for and remember you can even do make-up classes in advance.  You can take any of our classes within this session which goes until December 19th for a total of the number of classes you paid for -- 12 classes for $108 or, if you pro-rated because you signed up late, that's your number.  But once December 19th comes, all class credits expire, so be sure to squeeze all your classes in.  It's fun to check out classes with different teachers.  The only one I would be cautious about dropping into at this point is Belly Dance as they are well on their way to creating a routine building from week to week.

I am back from a fabulous week with my teacher at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. Although, I have a standard yoga training credential, Yoga Alliance 200 Hour RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher),  I am eagerly preparing to take a much more rigorous certification exam that my teacher, Yogarupa Rod Stryker, has put together to synthesize my years of study with him over 21 trainings in the last 8 years.  Completion of his Certification training will then qualify me for the 500 - Hour RYT certification as well.  This Guru Parampara training I just completed (for the second time) is the culmination training of his program and really inspired me as to the essence of yoga and our mission as students and teachers -- yoga is about living more joyfully and purposefully, guided by our connection to the soul -- purusha -- infinite source.   

On another note, I am excited that the African Dancers and Drummers are holding their monthly class at Tapestry tomorrow -- dancing from 10:30 - Noon and drumming from 12:30 - 2 pm.  Susan Nesbit is coordinating this special event (which is not an official Tapestry sponsored event) and it should be super fun -- $10/class or $5/class for students. Call Susan at 606-4566 to register.

And tonite is Halloween.  My kids are eager to get dressed and head off for the VFW PRWS 8th Grade extravaganza followed by a night of trick or treating.  Hope you all enjoy this holiday and all it's child-like joy.

Blessings,

Kathy

Substitute Update and Yoga Retreat`

First of all, thanks to everyone who came out to Tapestry's very first workshop on Sunday:  A 3-Hour Complete Practice.  Finally, there was enough time to do everything on my list -- 2 hours of asana, 10 minutes of meditation; 20 minutes of savasana and 40 minutes of pranayama and more meditation.  It was an absolutely glorious day outside, the studio looked fantastic in the Fall light with a radiant tree outside the window and 9 beautiful souls came out to go deeply inside and touch in with their resplendent nature.  Thank you all.  We'll do these complete practices at least quarterly.

In just a few hours I leave for the airport to study again with my dear teacher and his teacher at the Himalayan Institute in PA (www.himalayaninstitute.org).  I TRUST that all will go well while I am away both at TYC and at home where my dear mother-in-law has flown in to help with my kids this week -- God Bless her.  All my classes this week have wonderful teachers lined up to share their wisdom -- Adley Bertsch will sub my Yoga 1/2 and Gentle Classes; Meg Newlin will sub Yoga I; and Monte McPheron will lead the Wednesday morning meditation.  Thanks to each of them for offering to step in for me this week -- I am truly grateful. 

Blessings to everyone and I look forward to coming back to Viroqua completely energized, inspired and renewed by this week in retreat and deep study.  Much love!

Hari Om,

Kathy